15 years later...
After the great internal war among the members of the Aegir, the council made up of the thirteen leaders in charge of Anima, one of them, known as General Ryser, took power. The other 12 could only fall or flee. Some were killed in the early days of the betrayal, among them the strongest and wisest of the Aegir members, Alvaron Hono, and others in the following years. The remaining ones led small and disorganized resistance groups scattered across the six regions of Anima, now governed by the most trusted commanders of the General:
Harthland, a rocky expanse located at the eastern edge of the nation. It is the poorest region of the Kingdom, mostly inhabited by miners;
Era, the largest region of Anima. It occupies the southern portion of the Kingdom and is mostly covered by a vast desert, inhabited by nomadic populations, marking the border with other nations. It is also home to the kingdom's capital, Soulis;
Astalia, the smallest region of Anima. Located between Harthland and Era, its territory is crossed by a long mountain range that separates the two surrounding regions;
Esios, the northernmost region. Eternally covered by a blanket of snow, it is famous for its almost fairy-tale landscapes and the magnificent White Forest, which overlooks the northern sea;
Atlas, a small region based on development and industry, located on the southwest border of Esios, home to Anima's elite. Almost all of its territory is dotted with lavish cities and weapons factories;
Elbion, the region at the westernmost border of Anima. An idyllic region where agriculture and livestock farming are the main activities. It is famous for its sanctuary, located on a floating island that towers over the region. It was strictly forbidden for anyone to set foot on the sacred island...
What prevented the people from openly rebelling were the so-called "Espers." Some whispered they were demons, others called them the General's elite, while some claimed they were ordinary people subjected to some cruel experiment. Each Esper was capable of controlling an element, although so far the types were very limited. The most common were fire, water, earth, air, and lightning, although there were also rumors of those who could control minds. Ordinary humans stood no chance; a single Esper could change the course of a battle.
It was precisely the desire of one boy, Koen Yuu, to become an Esper that changed the fate of the entire Kingdom...
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"Yuu, where are you?"It was his best friend, Keiji, calling out to him.
"Up here," Yuu replied with a sigh, lying lazily across the top of a low wall.
"Come on, get down here! Toru and Mira are with me," Keiji urged.
The four of them had been friends for as long as they could remember. Yuu and Keiji were both fifteen, while Toru and Mira were eighteen. They lived on the outskirts of Reeda, a small and impoverished village at the far eastern edge of Harthland. The only source of income in Reeda came from its mines. The minerals the villagers were forced to extract were used as ammunition for the regional army's weapons.
Yuu was always covered in cuts and bruises, his black hair constantly messy with his usual stubborn lock falling over his forehead. He spent his days exploring every nook and cranny of the village and dreamed, day after day, of joining the army. Even though his family was poor and owned very little, his parents always did their best to make sure he never went without.
Keiji, in contrast, was a well-groomed blond boy, always neat and composed. He had lost both his parents at a young age, and since then, had lived in an orphan group alongside Toru and Mira.
Toru was your typical street punk — messy brown hair and a sharp tongue. He was the unofficial leader of the group of orphans. Mira, on the other hand, was the only girl among them… and easily the most unsettling. She always claimed she came from a family of ninjas — and from the way she moved, it was easy to believe her. She was the fastest and most agile of them all. Her long brown hair flowed down her back, and she always wore a scarf wrapped around her neck — the last gift her mother had given her before vanishing.
She and Toru had known each other long before the others came along, and Yuu often wondered if there was something more than friendship between them… but judging by Mira's ghostly stare and the terrified look Toru always had around her, the answer seemed pretty clear.
Their little group was always together. Most of their time was spent racing through the village streets or clashing in playful stick duels — and almost every time, Mira came out on top.Just a few years ago, their group had been much larger. But poverty, illness, and harsh conditions had slowly whittled their numbers down. More troubling still, some children had begun to mysteriously disappear in recent months, vanishing without a trace.
One of them was Khala — a girl the same age as Yuu. She had been his very first friend, and the two had been inseparable ever since. He cared deeply for her, and her disappearance had left a wound he couldn't quite heal.
Yuu was the only one among them who still had a family. Aside from his parents, someone else had been living at their house lately — a distant relative of his father's named Noroki Hitoshi.His father had warned him not to talk to anyone about it."He's only staying for a short time," he had said.But even at that age, Yuu could tell something about Hitoshi was… different.
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That day, the Governor of Harthland himself — Raxis, known across the land as the White Lightning — was coming to their humble village. His mission: to hunt down one of the Thirteen Aegir leaders, rumored to be hiding somewhere nearby.Everyone in the village was waiting for his arrival. Some were terrified by the stories whispered about him…But others, like Yuu and his friends, were thrilled — eager to catch a glimpse of the Kingdom's legendary Espers in action.
"Hey guys, what do you say we go check out the Governor's arrival too?" Keiji suggested."Totally!" Yuu answered, eyes lighting up with excitement. "I want to join the army and become an Esper. I can't miss this chance!""Keep dreaming, rookie," Toru laughed. "You'll probably stay a foot soldier forever, while I end up as the General's personal bodyguard!""Laugh all you want. We'll see who ends up on top," Yuu shot back."Cut it out, you two," Keiji sighed."Oh, let 'em fight," Mira said, her tone relaxed and cool as always. "I'll enjoy watching them roll around in the dirt like pigs again.""You know you're kind of scary, right?" Toru muttered."That's exactly the impression I'm going for," she replied with a smirk.
Suddenly, a shout rang out in the distance."The Governor! The Governor's here!"Voices rose into a chaotic chorus from the village square.
"Let's go!" Yuu shouted, already sprinting toward the village gates with his friends close behind.
They saw the Governor's carriage approaching, escorted by a small group of mounted soldiers and his elite guard — a trio known as Lightstorm.
At the head of the unit was Fred, their leader. He had long blonde hair that fell over part of his face and wore a crimson uniform. Over his heart, stitched into the fabric, was the Governor's emblem: a white lightning bolt.Beside him stood Jingrou, the second member of Lightstorm, his face hidden behind a heavy helmet. His entire body was encased in thick azure armor.The third was Yara, the only woman of the trio. She wore revealing yellow clothing, her face hidden behind a masquerade-style mask.
The door of the carriage creaked open.And from it stepped Governor Raxis — tall, gaunt, bald, and unmistakably old. Yuu guessed he was about sixty, though he looked far older. His armor shone silver in the sunlight, the same white lightning bolt emblazoned across his chest.Stepping down, Raxis waved with a polite smile and began to address the crowd."Citizens of Reeda…" he started to speak.
But Yuu didn't hear a word. He was too caught up in awe.They were Espers!He could feel it — not just the Governor, but all of Lightstorm. That overwhelming presence… there was no mistaking it.
The soldiers began clearing a path through the villagers, holding what looked like some sort of detection device.Toru had once told him about it — something that could trace Esper energy. They were searching for the fugitive. He had to be an Esper too.
As the soldiers made their way into one of the outer alleys, pushing people aside, Yuu froze."Wait… That's where my house is!" he shouted. "I have to go—my family's there!"
The Governor's group moved on, but Yuu couldn't force his way through the crowd.Not that it mattered.He was born and raised in this village. He knew every corner of it like the back of his hand.
He dashed toward an old house wall, scaling it with practiced ease and climbing up onto the rooftops for a better view. From there, he could see the Governor.
"Yuu, wait!" Keiji's voice rang out below.
Then came a scream.And a blinding white flash fell from the sky — straight down, onto his home.
Yuu's eyes widened.From the rooftop, he saw their lifeless bodies—his parents—lying at Raxis's feet. Flames were spreading from the ruins of their home.The Governor turned to the crowd, a twisted grin on his face.
"Anyone with information on Nozoi Hitoshi, speak now."
Yuu's mind went blank.The man he had admired just moments ago… had killed his parents.To catch his father's relative.But why had they been hiding a wanted man?
Fueled by rage, Yuu leapt from the roof and charged through the panicking villagers, pushing and shoving until he stood right in front of Raxis.
He swung his fist, slamming it into the Governor's armor.
The crowd gasped.Even Raxis was momentarily stunned.
Then Fred stepped in, grabbing Yuu and forcing him to his knees."What should we do with this one?" he asked coldly.
Raxis let out a dry laugh."He must be their son. Let him join the rest of his family."
Without hesitation, Fred hurled Yuu straight into the burning wreckage.
He heard Keiji's scream.The crowd's voices were fading.Smoke filled his lungs, and he instinctively raised an arm to shield his face from the searing heat.
This was it.His dreams… were going to burn away with him.
Then, amidst the smoke, a scent—soft and out of place.Peach blossoms!
He opened his eyes.
There, lifting him from the flames, was Hitoshi Nozoi — his long black hair loose and flowing.
The crowd fell into shocked murmurs."It's him! Kill him!" Raxis shouted.
With Yuu in his arms, Hitoshi dashed forward, effortlessly dodging incoming attacks.
"Where the hell are you taking him?!" Toru yelled.
Hitoshi ignored him.Instead, he called out to three figures nearby."Grab those three too," he ordered, pointing to Toru, Keiji, and Mira.
Two men and a woman moved swiftly, lifting the trio onto their shoulders before leaping onto the rooftops and vanishing into the village skyline — before any soldiers could give chase.
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"Sir…" Yara began.
Raxis clenched his jaw, barely maintaining composure."I can't believe it," he muttered. "For a second, I thought those three might be Espers too…"
"Should we report this to the other Governors? Or the General?" Jingrou asked.
"…Not yet. It's only a suspicion," Raxis replied sharply. "No need to trouble the General over an uncertainty.Send a team to track them. I've had enough of this filth. We're heading back to Sira."
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Yuu woke up inside a strange machine. He was strapped down, and the burns all over his body sent waves of unbearable pain through him.
Through the glass of the device, Hitoshi's voice reached him."Yuu… I'm sorry about what happened to your parents. This is all my fault. I couldn't do anything to save them."
The memory of his parents' sudden deaths flashed before Yuu's eyes. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks.
"But we can still save you," Hitoshi continued. "Your burns are too severe—this is the only way to keep you alive. But you have to do your part. When we activate the machine, hold on to a single thought for the entire process. Don't dwell on negative things like revenge, or you could lose control. Think of something happy. We'll make your dream come true: you'll become an Esper."
"How… how can you ask me to think of something happy right now?" Yuu whispered, his voice barely audible.
"I know, but—" Hitoshi began, only to be interrupted as the door swung open.
A towering man stepped inside, a cigar between his teeth, a black patch covering his left eye, his dark hair tied back."It's time," the man said simply.
Hitoshi backed away but kept his gaze locked on Yuu.
The machine let out a sharp, grinding sound, and Yuu's consciousness faded into darkness.
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He saw many things.Water. Earth. Air. Wind. Lightning.And then—utter darkness.
A cold voice echoed through the void:"Yuu… isn't it revenge you seek? Don't listen to their words. They only want to use you. Accept me, and I'll help you. Accept me… and we'll be together, forever."
The scene of Governor Raxis killing his parents played before his eyes once more.From the shadows, a human figure cloaked in Darkness extended a hand to him.
"All you have to do is embrace the Darkness… and your revenge will come easily."Two glowing red eyes stared at him from within the black.
"You have another choice!"
A small flame flickered into life in the void. It danced for a moment—then took the shape of a girl.Unlike the cold Darkness, her voice was warm and kind… like that of a gentle older sister.
"Yuu… revenge is not the path you should follow. That is not your way."
The flame shifted again, taking on a shape similar to the one cloaked in Darkness—but hers burned with brilliant crimson fire.
"Your friends… they are what matters most. Never forget that. Accept this flame of mine, and use it to purify the world. Use it… to save the world from my sin."
"Don't listen to such nonsense," the Darkness snapped. "You don't need her flame. You only need me!"
"The choice is yours alone.""Don't reject me… not again!"
Again?Whose voices were these?Why did they sound so… familiar?Had he encountered this Darkness before?
He looked into the shadows—and saw himself.Alone. Triumphant over Raxis. Seated in the Governor's throne.
Then he turned to the flames—and saw himself there too…But this time, he wasn't alone.
Keiji. Toru. Mira.And many others he didn't even recognize. All surrounding him.
"I've made my choice," Yuu said at last.Then he reached out his hand...